Animal feeder

ABSTRACT

An animal feeder which incorporates a plurality of bins adapted to receive and store animal feed, each bin being pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft and tipped by timed mechanism from an erect position to rotate about the shaft, spilling the animal feed from the bin. The bin is open at the top, and when it is tipped, the feed therein spills out. The timed means incorporates a cam mounted on a rotating shaft at a timed rate which tips the bin past an equilibrium point.

United States Patent 1191 Ruth 1 1 Jan. 21, 1975 {541 ANIMAL FEEDER3,581,711 6/1971 Bates 119/515 [76] Inventor: Arthur P. Ruth, PO. Box11037,

Houston, 7501 Primary ExaminerHugh R. Chamblee [22] Filed: July 13, 197321 App1.No.:378,954 [57] ABSTRACT An animal feeder which incorporates aplurality of bins adapted to receive and store animal feed, each [52]U.S. Cl. 1l9/51.13 bin being pivotally mounted on a transverse Shaft and[51] Int. Cl A0lk 05/02 tipped by timed mechanism from an fleet positionto [58] Field ofSearch ..1l9/5l.11,51.l2,51.l3,

119/51 14 51 15 51 5 56 R 56 A rotate about the shaft, spilling theanimal feed from the bin. The bin is open at the top, and when it isReferences Cited tipped, the feed therein spills out. Thetlmed meansincorporates a cam mounted on a rotating shaft at a UNITED STATESPATENTS timed rate which tips the bin past an equilibrium 1,214,8812/1917 Berntzen 119/56 A UX point, 1,622,443 3/1927 Halvarsson 119/56 BX 2,538,413 1/1951 Chard l19/5l.ll X 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ANIMALFEEDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is often inconvenient to feedconfined animals on a daily basis. Pets and livestock require feed on aregular basis. The animal feeder of the present invention has beendevised to cure this problem. It enables the owner of the animals to beaway for several days without having to find someone to feed theanimals. The device of the present invention is installed by an ownerfor feeding his pets or livestock. The device is preferably filled withanimal feed and the timer is initiated in operation. The feederdispenses feed at the requisite intervals, thereby providing good carefor the pets or livestock.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an animal feederhaving a number of upwardly facing bins which are open at the top. Theyare filled from the top with a specified quantity of animal feed. Thebins are pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft and are maintained inan upright posture by leaning against a timer mechanism. The timermechanism includes a shaft which is rotated by a timer motor. The shaftsupports a projecting lob which is rtated on the shaft in contact withthe bin. The lob forces the bin forward past its equilibrium position,causing the bin to dump its contents. The number of bins may be varied.One bin is provided for each feeding interval.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a singleanimal feeder constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 illustratingdetails of construction of the bin showing a tipping position in dottedline;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the animal feeder of FIG. 1; and.

FIG. 4 is an alternative embodiment incorporating multiple compartmentsarranged along a common shaft.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Attention is first directed toFIG. 1 where an animal feeder I0 is shown. The animal feeder l0incorporates a stand which is constructed of first and second side walls12 and 14. The walls 12 and 14 support a generally horizontal shaft 16which is beneath a bin 18. The shaft 16 supports the bin 18 for fillingand eventual dumping as will be described.

In FIG. 2, the bin 18 is shown in greater detail. The bin includes afront wall 20, a generally parallel back wall 22, and a bottom wall 24.The bin 18 is more or less rectangular although the bottom wall 24includes an angled portion 26. The bin 18 includes an end wall 28 bettershown in FIG. 1. The wall 28 extends downwardly to a bottom located tab30 shown in FIG. 2. The tab is duplicated at both sides of the bin. Thetwo tabs are perforated to receive a transverse shaft 16. The shaft 16supports the bin for rotation about the shaft.

The bin 18 is shown leaning somewhat to the left in FIG. 2, and issupported by a shaft 32. The shaft 32 is preferably parallel to theshaft 16. The shaft 32 passes through the end walls 12 and 14. A motor34 incorporating an appropriate gear box rotates the shaft 32 asillustrated in FIG. 1. The shaft 32 includes a collar 36 which supportsa bolt 38 which functions as a cam lob. The bolt 38 is rotated againstthe back wall 22 of the bin. In the full line position of FIG. 2, thebin rests with its center of gravity to the left of a vertical throughthe shaft 16. This tips the bin to the left, resting on the shaft 32 atthe sleeve 36 on the shaft. In the full line position, the bin can befilled without fear of tipping. When the cam lob 38 is at some angleaway from the bin. the bin is supported in the full line position. Whenthe shaft 32 is rotated, it operates a timer mechanism bringing the camlob 38 into contact with the bin. Only a minimal amount of torque isrequired when the cam lob 38 contacts the bin 18 and rotates it partlytoward the dotted line position of FIG. 2. The center of gravity movesto the right of a vertical line through the shaft 16. This creates atorque tending to rotate the bin in a clockwise direction. The bin thusrotates, dumping the contents. The bin rotates downwardly until it isengaged by a trough 42 which is fixed between the end walls 12 and 14.It slopes forwardly to deliver the animal feed to a point in front ofthe feeder, more convenient for feedmg.

Attention is next directed to FIG. 4. An alternative embodiment utilizesthe bin 18 which is duplicated at multiple points along the embodiment50. The end walls 52 and 54 are further apart and the shaft 56 issubstantially longer. The feed trough 58 is similar to the trough 42 butit is wider. Several bins are included. The number is subject tovariation. The several bins are all operated by an elongate shaft whichcooperates with a timing motor 60. The shaft functions in the samemanner as the shaft 32 previously described. An individual cam lob islocated behind each bin 18. The cam lobs are angularly positioned withrespect to one another and the motor 60 operates at a rate of speedwhich causes the bins 18 to be dumped after timed intervals. Each binwill dump when required. This enables the apparatus to deliver feed on ascheduled basis.

An apparatus has been provided which enables feed to be dispensed on atimed basis so that the animals which are fed by the device can rely onfeeding at specified intervals. The device can be set up to dispensefeed on a daily basis. One bin is dumped each day. To accomplish this,the shaft and cam lobs supported by the shaft must be rotated at a speedto accomplish this purpose.

The bins are open topped in the illustrated embodiment. They can becovered with a top or lid with a small opening in the front wall 20 justbelow the lid. The opening will be at the bottom most position when thebin rotates to the dotted line position of FIG. 2 and opens into thetrough 42 to dump the feed. A cover or top enables the device to be usedexposed to the weather where rain will not accumulate in the bin.

The scope of the present invention is determined by the appended claims.

I claim:

I. An animal feeder comprising:

a bin for receiving and storing animal feed therein. said bin includingan open upper end and a bottom the'reacross;

a stand;

a first shaft supported by said stand;

means connected to said bin and rotatably engaged with said shaft forpivotal movement of said bin from a generally upright position forreceiving and storing feed and also for movement to a position dumpingfeed therefrom by gravity fall;

a second shaft parallel to said first shaft;

a cam lob projecting from said second shaft;

said second shaft being positioned relative to said first shaft suchthat said bin is held in a generally upright position by resting againstsaid second shaft and said cam lob rotates against said bin to push itlaterally from said second shaft and past a point where it tends torotate of its own weight to a dumping position; and,

a motor operating at a specified rate connected to said second shaft torotate said cam lob.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bin includes side wallsextending from said bottom.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a second bin is pivotally mounted onsaid first shaft and a second cam lob is located on said second shaftadjacent to said second bin for rotatively tipping said second bin to adumping position and said first and second cam lobs are angularlydisplaced from one another to enable said first and second bins to dumpsequentially separated by a specified interval.

1. An animal feeder comprising: a bin for receiving and storing animalfeed therein, said bin including an open upper end and a bottomthereacross; a stand; a first shaft supported by said stand; meansconnected to said bin and rotatably engaged with said shaft for pivotalmovement of said bin from a generally upright position for receiving andstoring feed and also for movement to a position dumping feed therefromby gravity fall; a second shaft parallel to said first shaft; a cam lobprojecting from said second shaft; said second shaft being positionedrelative to said first shaft such that said bin is held in a generallyupright position by resting against said second shaft and said cam lobrotates against said bin to push it laterally from said second shaft andpast a point where it tends to rotate of its own weight to a dumpingposition; and, a motor operating at a specified rate connected to saidsecond shaft to roTate said cam lob.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid bin includes side walls extending from said bottom.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein a second bin is pivotally mounted on saidfirst shaft and a second cam lob is located on said second shaftadjacent to said second bin for rotatively tipping said second bin to adumping position and said first and second cam lobs are angularlydisplaced from one another to enable said first and second bins to dumpsequentially separated by a specified interval.